Spike



Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

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' Application filed April 1, 1924:, Serial Nb. 703,519. r r

This invention relates to spikes of the character particularly desirablefor use in connection with rails.

The primary object of the invention is to 6 provide a spike with meansfor preventing the accidental withdrawal or loosening of the spike whilein use.

More specifically the invention compre- I hends the use of pocketspositioned at differential vertical points of the spike adapted topermit the expansion of the wood into which the spike is driven in saidpockets to thereby lock the same securely in position.

Another feature of the invention comprises an additional locking andwedging element adapted to cooperate with agroove in the spike to takeup lateral play and also constitute a positive locking means for the keyand spike.

Another important feature of the invention is the idea of so forming thepockets that they may receive a preservative composition Which will,upon the entrance of the spike in the wood, be displaced at differentpoints throughout the edges of the wood in proximity to the spike.

Other important objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled inthe art, upon a reading of the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the drawing attached hereto and forming apart thereof, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation view of mypreferred construction, D

Figure 2, a sectional view thereof disclosing the locking key in itsoperative position Figure 3, a side view of the spike disclosing thepocket, the preservative outlet communicating therewith and the grooveadapted to receive the locking key aforesaid.

Figure 4, a cross-sectional view of line 4-4 of Figure 3.

a Figure 5, a cross-sectional Vie of line 55 of Figure 3,

Figure 6, a detail view of the locking key.

Figure 7 a further sidedetailed view of the locking key.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, 1 represents therailroad spike; 2 and 3 pockets of a concavo-convex formation andcomprising bottom portions 4 and 5 respectively; 6 is a groove formedpreferably in the rear of the spike for receiving my preferred form oflocking pin '7. It will be noted that this locking pin comprises anintegrally cast wedge-shaped head 7 havng a smooth exterior face whichextends in substantially the same vertical plane as the lower portion ofthe spike. This head is beveled diagonally on the inside thereof withrespect to the vertical axis of the spike and thereby provides awedge-shaped innerface wlth an exposed rib portion 8 of graduallydecreasing diameter constituting a guiding rib cooperating with therecessed portion 6 of the spike. In this connection it will be observedthat in the event that the locking recesses 2 and 3 are insuflicient tosecurely hold the vspike in place, due to long and rough usage, or ifthere is a lateral movement ofthe spike 1 with respect to the railflange 10, then it is contemplated that the locking key be employed; Itwill be noted that as the locking key is driven downwardly with respectto the rail spike, the wedgeshaped portion 8 thereof will move the spikelaterally in secure position with the rail, as clearly shown in Figure1, and that a further downward movement of the spike will result in theend thereof engaging the tapered portion 11 at the lower extremity ofthe recess 6 aforesaid, resulting in an outward deflection of the end ofthe locking pin at substantially right angles to the rail spike; Inorder to facilitate the flaring or bending of this portion of thelocking key, I preferably Weaken the same as disclosed by the referencenumeral 11.

Due to the peculiar shape of the pockets 3 and 4, the spike, when driveninto the wood, will not appreciably cut or saw the wood but rather willmerely compress it, with the result that the wood will immediatelyexpand into the pockets as disclosed in the sectional view in Figure 2which will securely hold the spike in'place. An important feature of theinvention resides in the provision of an outlet channel 12, of graduallydecreasing depth, communicating with the pockets 3 and 4 so'that thepreservative composition which I may employ in the pockets will findspeedyoutlets through the channels aforesaid and up around the innersurfaces of the wood in proximity to the spike, thereby preventing theobjectionable decaying of the wood which is customary in the cess and alocking pin having an integral pin having a weakened )ortion near andWedge-shaped head provided with a smooth spaced from the lower emthereof to faei1iexterior face, said pin heed being beveled tate bendingand outward deflection upon diagonally downward on the inside thereofengagement with the lower end of said with respect to the vertical axisof the pin to recess.

therehv form a Wedge-shaped innerfaee In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature. with an exposed rib portion fitting Within the recess of thespike shank, said locking POLO C. AZZARA.

